March 14--This topsy-turvy season is finally entering the NCAA tournament.
A season that started with North Carolina at No. 1 and rapidly fluctuated throughout the season ends with Kansas at the top. Tracking all of the changes that took place in this unpredictable season's Top 25 would be a cumbersome task.
But the Jayhawks deserve to be No. 1.
(Last week's ranking in parentheses; records through Sunday.)
1. Kansas 30-4 (1)
2. Michigan State 29-5 (2)
3. North Carolina 28-6 (7)
4. Virginia 26-7 (4)
5. West Virginia 24-7 (9)
6. Oklahoma 25-7 (6)
7. Oregon 28-6 (10)
8. Villanova 29-5 (3)
9. Xavier 27-5 (5)
10. Indiana 28-7 (8)
11. Purdue 26-8 (13)
12. Miami 25-7 (11)
13. Utah 26-8 (12)
14. Louisville 23-8 (14)
15. Kentucky 26-8 (21)
16. Baylor 22-11 (22)
17. Texas A 26-8 (NR)
18. Seton Hall 25-8 (24)
19. Maryland 24-7 (15)
20. Wisconsin 20-12 (16)
21. Arizona 25-8 (20)
22. California 23-10 (NR)
23. Texas 20-12 (17)
24. Duke 23-10 (19)
25. Iowa State 21-11 (23)
-- Dropped out: Iowa (18), St. Mary's (25).
--Kentucky is peaking at the right time. The Wildcats have won five straight, culminating in the SEC tournament championship against Texas A They deserved to make a major leap to the top 15.
--Speaking of Texas A, I was remiss to leave out the Aggies last week. I dropped them out of my top 25 when they lost four of five and was cautious about bringing them back. But A has earned my vote with eight straight wins before falling to Kentucky in overtime in the SEC final.
--North Carolina moved into the top three thanks to a five-game run that ended with an impressive victory over Virginia for the ACC tournament title.
sryan@tribpub.com
